	US 12,011,695 B2
	Cross-flow assembly and method for membrane emulsification controlled droplet production
Bruce Williams, Cleveland (GB); Sam Trotter, Cleveland (GB); Richard Holdich, Cleveland (GB); David Palmer, Cleveland (GB); and David Hayward, Cleveland (GB)
Assigned to MICROPORE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, (GB)
Appl. No. 16/763,752
Filed by MICROPORE TECHNOLOGIES LTD, Cleveland (GB)
PCT Filed Nov. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/GB2018/053290 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 13, 2020, PCT Pub. No. WO2019/092461, PCT Pub. Date May 16, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1718680 (GB), filed on Nov. 13, 2017; and application No. 1801459 (GB), filed on Jan. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0368699 A1, Nov. 26, 2020
Int. Cl. B01F 23/00 (2022.01); B01F 23/41 (2022.01); B01F 23/451 (2022.01); B01F 25/313 (2022.01); B01F 25/314 (2022.01); B01F 101/06 (2022.01); B01F 101/22 (2022.01); B01F 101/30 (2022.01)

CPC B01F 23/41 (2022.01) [B01F 23/451 (2022.01); B01F 25/31331 (2022.01); B01F 25/3142 (2022.01); B01F 23/4145 (2022.01); B01F 2101/06 (2022.01); B01F 2101/22 (2022.01); B01F 2101/30 (2022.01)]

31 Claims

1. A cross-flow apparatus for producing an emulsion or dispersion by dispersing a first phase in a second phase; said cross-flow apparatus comprising:

an outer tubular sleeve provided with a first inlet at a first end; an emulsion outlet; and a second inlet, distal from and inclined relative to the first inlet;

a tubular membrane provided with a plurality of pores and adapted to be positioned inside the tubular sleeve; and

an insert adapted to be located inside the tubular membrane, said insert comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, each of the inlet end and an outlet end being provided with chamfered region; the chamfered region is provided with a plurality of orifices and a furcation plate;

and wherein the emulsion outlet is generally at a second end of the tubular sleeve;

and wherein the inlet and outlet ends of the outer sleeve are provided with a seal assembly comprising a tubular ferrule provided with a flange at each end.